Two further accidents in January 2015, decreases two Dhruv helicopter fleet in less than five years. The helicopter 601, for use by the President of the Republic, who fell a year ago in Chimborazo was the best maintained and reviewed. Only operated at sea level, but one fell into Chongón, Guayas, and the last on January 27, 2015, in Napo, Amazon Region. It is the fleet with the worst performance of the Ecuadorian Air Force, which he bought when he was Defense Minister Javier Ponce.

The Ecuadorian state bought the company 7 HAL Dhruv, India. Of those reached 6 were injured 4 and get 3 which, according to sources from the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) two are operating at sea level and another was being used to meet the needs of spare parts, especially the 601, the presidential helicopter, Chimborazo injured in the February 20, 2014, while covering the Guayaquil-Quito route. The FAE has not given an official release about it.

Almost a year after the tragic accident of 601, or FAE nor the Government has given a public explanation of the reasons for the fall. While the country expect this response, January 13, 2015, another ship fell into the reservoir Chongón, west of Guayaquil, no casualties were reported. And when even explanations of the latter were expected, another rushed into the Ecuadorian Amazon in the heliport Tena, Napo, according to official reports, the January 27, 2015.

The Dhruv who wore the President, according to reports in forums of the Armed Forces It was "the best kept, the revised all Dhruv fleet, with the rank of priority. Which meant that if a piece was missing, was removed from another to put it. For availability, should be 24 hours and 7 days. "Sources indicate that only four of these helicopters, the original seven, after five years of operations, "which makes the ship with the worst availability in the history of the Ecuadorian Air Force." That is, the lower operating model duration Force history.

Detail of the cab of Dhruv 601 serving as President of the Republic. This crashed in the province of Chimborazo, in February 2014.

The first accident of the newly acquired fleet was the October 27, 2009, during a journal of the FAE, the First Air Zone, north of Quito, when one of the new devices rushed amid the flyover. The cause was attributed to the inexperience of the rider and not the conditions of the apparatus. There were no deaths. Strange coincidence, two years earlier in a flypast of similar characteristics in India, a Dhruv crashed to the ground, killing the pilot. The first rugged Dhruv in the hands of the FAE, it was not known if he was replaced because he had filed a dispute over the price of the device. After the first accident in Quito, there was an "upgrade" the price of the device, which would have amounted to $ 7 million worth 14 million each in the original contract, according to military sources. For this reason they have not delivered the seventh unit and replacement of the injured not arrived. The dispute over the payment of insurance still remains, the sources said.

Negotiations helicopters were in the midst of controversy. With this purchase, Ecuador opened the export market for the airline industry in India. Such was the gratitude for the largest air show in India, the company selling HAL put on display the VIP helicopter assigned to the Presidency of Ecuador. The aircraft was on a big stage, above the American continent, and could read a sign announcing: The world welcomes the Dhruv.

The delivery of helicopters was immediate and, as a courtesy, the devices were brought to Ecuador on a giant cargo plane, not on the ship, as is customary. Which prevented the ships were dismantled entirely.

The tributes of gratitude did not end. Ashok Bhaweja, president of HAL Dhruv gave a model of the then Ambassador of Ecuador in India, Carlos Abad, in the presence of then-commander of the FAE, Rodrigo Bohorquez Flores. This was at the press conference that gave HAL during Aereo Show India 2009 in Yelahanka air base in Bangalore, India on February 13, 2009, "reported the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana page

While this was the exchange of letters between the Head of the Commission for Reception of Dhruv and HAL company representative in Ecuador was intense. A letter in May 2009 Colonel Victor Armendariz was referring to a series of problems that the commission had found in appliances fleet.

The then Commander of the Air Force, Rodrigo Bohorquez, nods of triumph to receive the first Dhruv in India. He is accompanied by the president of the company selling HAL.
Previously, the commission had performed functional tests on the ground, "fulfilling pre-flight observations, checks inside and outside cabins and electromagnetic interference testing, as established protocols and check list generated within the commission," according to a report received by the then Commander of the Air Operations and Defense. The report notified that functional flight checks were made, with 37:05 hours flown, with an average of 7 hours per helicopter, with a total of 41 missions, according to established protocols. On additional activities, the Commission reported that the verification of inventories of aircraft is made, "existing parts installed in helicopters can not be verified because for verification must be disassembled aircraft components, which could be solved if it had fulfilled factory supervision, staff of the Ecuadorian Air Force, parallel to the line of production of each helicopter. This activity was not performed because it was not included in any of the clauses of the contract ".

There was also a series of observations on the operation and equipment of the Dhruv. For example, the April 30, 2009, the representative of HAL receives a letter from the FAE in which you are informed that "Oxygen System for Crew and Passengers who is described in the contract 2008-d-006, Appendix 1 (...) is necessary to achieve high operational missions, according to the orographic characteristics of Ecuadorian territory, so its implementation in Dhruv helicopters II is a priority. "

In another letter to the representative, in May 2009, it is claimed that the offices of the FAE 23 and April 30 of that year have not been answered. And he warns that it is necessary to take action on the following points:
"Technical specifications supplied NVG is required in order to validate them as items of art, as stated in the contract.

"The contract states in its operational requirement No. 19, which must have the system Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning, not generic features. System used to prevent accidents, very important for the safety of helicóteros.
"Found major components (blades, main rotor and engine) that have date prior to 2008".

At this point, a previous communication realizes that the Commission did not agree with the System Ground Proximity Warning updated, which was installed on AIDS for all helicopters, whose technical specifications were not available. It noted that while the helicopter 601, there installed a GPS and Satphone, the latter must have the provision to settle in the rest of helicopters. It also calibrate the magnetic compass must to fix marked variation in flight. Additionally "is not mentioned whether you have addressed the flaws of: release access covers during flight and intense vibration of audio box at PAX VIP cabin, weather radar does not transmit, no notice filings in the AGB, location correction torque analog instruments and tachometer and documentation supporting the changes made in the helicopter 601 ". The letter further requested that helicopters 601 and 604 is placed the altimeter and the analog speedometer, in the united position and in the rest of aircraft.

7
million, approximately cost each helicopter
In a letter to then-Defense Minister Javier Ponce, is made to know that six of the ten engines provided by the selling company have problems in the useful life of 15 years counted from the date of manufacture, "after what which must be sent to the factory to verify your historical data and general condition to extend its lifetime, in this situation are six of the ten engines and the Commission, from this point of view, considered to be detrimental to the institution because the potential life of these components is diminished as follows: 4 motors in two years, three years with one engine and a motor with four years "potential. Regarding the 601, the presidential helicopter, the Commission stated that its main rotor blades dating from 2007 and their engines, one was from 2007 and one from 2006.

On the letter of May 2009, mentioned above, the notice states that "it is necessary that the delivery of Helicopter Maintenance Manual 601, which has major alterations from the rest of helicopters agilité".

This series of difficulties were resolved, apparently, because finally made the ceremony reception. This was stated by the representative of the company in Ecuador, when he said the helicopters had passed all tests within the protocol of the Ecuadorian Air Force.

The controversial contract that leaves three helicopters Dhruv a batch of 7
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The aircraft took flight and flew into the air amid military celebration of 89 years of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE). "The arrival of the seven Indian Dhruv helicopters marks a new path in aviation rescue," he said in his speech that October 27, 2009 the then commanding general of this branch, Rodrigo Bohorquez. Minutes later one of those Dhruv, of which had highlighted that could fly in all weather conditions, began to rush ashore and ended crashed.

The crash ignited the controversy surrounding a purchase that had been discarded during the administration of commander Jorge Gabela (January 2007-April 2008), after three procurement processes declared void "for not agreeing to the institutional interests", as stated in the special examination of the Comptroller conducted between January 2007 and June 2011 and approved in May 2013.

Gabela, an experienced fighter pilot, said then that neither the armed forces of India wanted those helicopters. "They have no certification. Chile conducted a study to acquire, but failed the test (...), have too many problems engine, rotor ... "he told the Universe in 2009. The officer died on December 29, 2010 after a armed attack at his home in Samborondón that for the prosecution, was a criminal offense; and to his family, related to their questions to the purchase of the Dhruv.

After the attack of the Colombian Army in Angostura, in March 2008, the now defunct National Defense Council declared emergency acquisition of multipurpose helicopters, they would go to Combat Wing No. 22 in Guayaquil.

The Recruitment Committee invited the competition to companies that were registered in the FAE. Participated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Elibitsystems, Eurocopter and Kazan, but the contract was awarded to the first unanimously, after concluding that was the one that met the requirements of the bases.

The Defense Minister Javier Ponce, and the president of Sumil CA, HAL representative in Ecuador, Juan Cortez, signed on August 5, 2008 the contract for $ 45'200.000: $ 30 million payment upon signing the contract and $ 15'200.000 in 10 annual installments from 2009 to 2018. The deferred payment price LIBOR + 1% adds $ 50'700.000, according to the minutes of the Committee on Contracts of the FAE.

The fall of the first Dhruv motivated in 2010, from Assemblyman Fausto Cobo (SP), a criminal complaint against Ponce minister and 18 military and a request for impeachment before the Oversight Committee of the Assembly (denied by the government majority ) irregularities in fulfilling requirements. For example, it was found that the five aircraft received until then had parts from other years when the contract said that helicopters and their components must be new, from 2008 onwards.

Sumil claimed that the FAE quick delivery and that caused manufacture engines for previous years. The same FAE in a letter certifying that had engines other years, but it would not affect their performance.

The Comptroller, during the administration of Carlos Polit, confirmed that a check for 601 Dhruv (presidential), 602, 603 and 605. The 604 will not be revised because it had already been injured. It was found that four engines were of manufacture 2007, one 2006 and one in 2005. "are included as part or accessory of the motors 4 FADEC (computerized control system fuel) of 2006, four main rotor blades are aircraft components manufacturing 2007 ", although there was a commitment to HAL to replace them later.

The 601, 602 and 603 came with parts of previous years. The 601 was the second helicopter in an accident in February 2014, and 603, the third, on 13 January. Only 604, which fell into the military ceremony, and 605, dropped on 27 January, 2008 had the equipment.

Helicopters had no FAR and JAR certifications, licenses flight safety issues the Federal Aviation Administration US Bohorquez said in 2009 that not required because those are for civil helicopters.

"The technical specifications prepared to purchase the helicopters were not appropriate," observed the Comptroller, as reportedly described the deal HAL "on the basis of a certificate of airworthiness counterpart FAR-29 standard Aviation Administration civil India "and other validated by the Directorate of civil Aviation of Chile.

He also noted that there are systems that have not yet been built or installed in equipment for ships' spares, tools, ground equipment, test benches, consumables, etc., have not been delivered by the HAL cía permanently and in full ".

With helicopters 606 and 607, that provision of the FAE be ground, there were also new: they reached 188 days late (it generated a fine for HAL to $ 940,665) and were 10 technical specifications unfulfilled, as the locator emergency signal .

The Pólit Comptroller explained via email that the new special review initiated after recent accidents will run from 30 June 2011 to date and include the processes of operation and maintenance of aircraft and spare parts procurement. He said that is different and complementary to the previous, which were determined and responsibilities, which are still pending adjudication.

In the first accident took effect Sucre insurance policy for $ 5.6 million. But the ship was not replaced because today the cost exceeds $ 13 million. The defense minister, Fernando Cordero, who until press time not responded to an interview request, said Thursday Ecuadorinmediato in the second accident insurance is also executed, but funds by decision of President Rafael Correa, were to "social development works" as the readjustment of school Vicente Rocafuerte.

THE UNIVERSE requested interviews FAE commander, Gen. Raul Banderas, but said the Ministry of Defense is responsible for providing information.; the now Agriculture Minister Javier Ponce; Gabriel Rivera and Marllely Vásconez, president and vice president of the Oversight Committee of the Assembly. Up to press time there was no response.

Alfonso Caicedo, current president of Sumil said by telephone that the Investigating not talk while no decision about the accident, the fourth in a fleet that should serve to rescue and wherein said Cobo, have been rescued Dhruv. (I)

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Asserting that Dhruv helicopters are good, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said HAL has been asked to set up additional depots for spares after Ecuador put the Indian choppers on "restricted" operations following a spate of accidents.

"Dhruv is a good platform. If there is any issue about maintainance. I have already discussed. I have asked HAL to create a depot wherever it is required so that spares are available," he told reporters here.

He was asked about the move by Equador to put the remaining three helicopters it had bought on restricted operations and if it would affect India's plans to emerge globally as a defence manufacturer.

"This is a problem of getting spares in time. HAL has taken a decision to keep Rs 400 crore aside for built up of spares. It might take 3-6 months," he said.

Ecuadorian Air Force had bought seven Dhruv helicopters from state-run HAL in 2009 under a deal estimated to cost about USD 45 million.

Two of them had crashed earlier while two suffered accidents recently, in a span of about a fortnight.

"Three aircraft have had their operations restricted because they are undergoing a complete check," Security Minister Cesar Navas was quoted as saying by El Universo newspaper after the accident on January 27.

Dhruv helicopter FAE 605 allegedly caught fire in Ecuador's Amazon region on January 27 after taking off at a military base in Tena, according to local media. Two people were injured in the mishap.

It was the fourth Dhruv to suffer an accident since 2009. Incidentally, this mishap occurred at a time when an Indian team was already there to probe the incident that took place on January 13. Official sources said another General Manager (Repairs and Maintenance), has now being sent to the northwestern South American country following the second accident.

They said the joint probe team will look into all angles including technical and human error.

A major accident happened in February 2014 when a Dhruv, assigned to the Air Force and sometimes used to transport President Rafael Correa, crashed on a flight from Guayaquil to Quito, killing three of its four crew members.

Earlier in October 2009, one helicopter crashed while making a low pass during a military ceremony in Quito, injuring the pilot and co-pilot. Dhruv helicopters were inducted into the Indian military in 2002.

The overall commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE), Lieutenant General Raul Banderas said and confirmed again yesterday, several media, the Boards Military Investigating Accidents (JIAM) have been formed to investigate the two last Dhruv helicopter accidents occurred this year.

He recalled that these Boards, independent and made up of officers from other forces are responsible for transferring the black boxes which will be examined in the US Currently, "Boards are doing their work in Guayaquil, separately, and can not guarantee how long will it take to have the final results of the study of all the variables that will determine exactly what had happened," said FAE in a press release that was sent this morning.

The same agency reported that the transfer of the black boxes to the US will be held next February 21, 2015, in order to perform analyzes of the information they contain, since 23 March.

On accidents, he stressed: "There has been a lot of manipulation and even political interest in this topic, unfortunately and all I want to clarify is that you are doing the research process as required, the Minister of National Defence has ordered the creation of two accident investigation boards separately in not involving any official of the Air Force. Besides myself have asked, and the Minister has made efforts to come a foreign commission to investigate the issue because what interests us most is that everything comes to light, in all transparency ", cite.

When asked about the first two accidents and operation of helicopters, the commander of the FAE noted that in the two cases together researchers determined that the causes were human error. Therefore, following the normal procedures, the rest of the fleet of helicopters continued to operate in missions risk management and transport the President when these activities, part of the mission of Ala 22, which belongs Dhruv squad . Therefore he said the aircraft had more than 6,500 flight hours due to the multiple missions continued to serve.

He said that after the accident Chongón Dhruv operations squadron stood; however, the fourth helicopter entered a verification procedure and Indian technicians who were conducting this process certified the flight, so that the output from Tena to Guayaquil was approved.

The process of buying seven Dhruv helicopters to strengthen the system for search and rescue of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE), Banderas said took place in 2008 in strict compliance with the legal framework. It was made by the now defunct National Defense Council, in accordance with its rules for recruitment. There was established that procurement under this policy had the confidential, according to safeguarding national security.

Thus, when interviewed on the review conducted by the Comptroller General to the contractual process of the ships, stated that: "There were comments but all were fulfilled, were corrected".

Pilots Who Flew Crashed Dhruv Were Experienced. Chopper Has a History of Crashes

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army's Dhruv helicopter that crashed in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday had two very experienced men flying it.

Lieutenant-Colonel Rajesh Gulati and his co-pilot Major Taher Hussain Khan had flown thousands of hours. Lieutenant Colonel Gulati was even a flight instructor - a position that entails flying over 1000 hours.

During Operation Meghrahat - the Army's flood relief mission in Kashmir - they had braved stones thrown at their choppers. They had always managed to accomplish their mission. But, yesterday something went horribly wrong.

The Army has ordered an inquiry into the incident. "We are looking at two possibilities -- a technical failure or an error of judgment by the pilots," a senior officer of the Indian Army told NDTV.

The possibilities of error judgment, however, is slim, admit officers. The aircraft was inducted into service in the early 2000s, but complaints have persisted.

The chopper that crashed yesterday was the seventh Dhruv to have a fatal end since 2005. Altogether, the army has lost 16 machines since 2002.

Ecuador too had imported a few of these machines but had to ground them following crashes.

Last July, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had lost two officers and five personnel when a Dhruv chopper crashed in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. Late last night, search teams of the Indian Army recovered the charred bodies of the two pilots from the Kurshu forest.

The indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter - is a twin engine aircraft which weighs about five tons and is manufactured by Government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Indian Army files about 60 of these machines in six squadrons. Between the three forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - there are over 130 Dhruvs in active service.

Major Khan who had spent about 5 years in the Army is from Hyderabad and had married last year. Lieutenant-Colonel Gulati, who had put in 14 years in the army, is survived by a wife and a 10-year-old son.

No matter how experienced, pilots still make mistakes just like the C-130J crash also happened at the helm of very experienced pilots. Dhruv has proven itself flying thousands of hrs in all types of tough/extreme terrain. Every chopper that has seen service of over 15 years has crash history. While operating in conditions like in India its natural. Let's wait to see the official report for the reason of crashes both in India and Equador

The 7.43pm crash of an Indian Army HAL-built Dhruv advanced light helicopter yesterday in Kashmir happened to be the third accident of the type in less than a month, a streak that has set off alarm bells once again within HAL. Last night's accident, in which two Army pilots Lt Col Rajesh Gulati and Major Tahir Khan were killed, was preceded by two crashes of Dhruv copters from the lot exported to Ecuador -- one on Jan 13 and the other on Jan 28 (Ecuador has lost four Dhruvs of the seven it has operated since 2009). There were no casualties in the two Ecuador accidents involving the Dhruv last month.

An HAL team dispatched to Ecuador on Jan 15 is part of accident investigations at a time when the country has restricted use of the Dhruvs to operational flights, and not for training or executive transport flights. HAL sources say preliminary information suggests the causes of the two January accidents are different.

The Sarang Dhruv aerobatics team is scheduled to perform at Aero India this month.